Pune to witness lower noise pollution during Diwali this year

Ahead of Diwali, the MPCB conducted tests on firecrackers in nine divisions of Maharashtra and found the decibel levels to be considerably lower compared to that of the previous year.

puneUpdated: Oct 19, 2017 17:09 IST

Shrinivas Deshpande

Hindustan Times, Pune

MPCB conducted tests on 23 different types of crackers and found that the traditional bomb and sound-producing crackers have lower decibel levels this year.(HT FILE PHOTO)

Pune will witness a Diwali with lesser noise pollution this year compared to the previous years. Ahead of Diwali, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) conducted tests on crackers in nine divisions in Maharashtra and found the decibel levels to be considerably low compared to that of the previous year.

Every year, before the Diwali, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board checks sound pollution levels generated by the burning of crackers. This year also, MPCB issued circulars in nine divisions of the state to measure noise pollution levels. According to this, crackers were to be tested in the second week of October at various places like Pune, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Nashik and Mumbai. The environmental watchdog of Maharashtra conducted tests on 23 different types of crackers and found that the traditional bomb and sound-producing crackers have lesser decibel levels.

Based on its findings and the restrictions imposed on the sale, use of firecrackers by the high court as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the MPCB is expecting the noise pollution levels during this Diwali to be lesser compared to yesteryears’. The Board has also observed that there is growing awareness about crackers among public.

Joint director of MPCB,Vidyanand Motghare said,“This year,the high court has banned the sale of firecrackers in residential areas. However, two years back, NGT had banned bursting crackers between 10 am to 6 pm. With these restrictions in place, firework stalls have reduced in number this year.” As a result of all these factors, noise levels are expected to be low this year, he added.

Environmentalists from the city are also expecting lesser pollution this year from crackers due to increased awareness in the public and the hike in prices of crackers due to the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Accoording to Pune city fire brigade chief Prashant Ranpise, the number of applications received by his department for setting up firecracker shops has also been considerably less.

“Last year, the fire brigade had received 995 applications for cracker sale stalls, but this time, only 250 applications were filed. Out of these, we had given permission to only 150 stalls. Due to the increased prices of crackers in the last four years, the sale of firecrackers has been negatively affected,” said Ranpise.